Friendship Dispels the Darkest Nights in Alaska.
How two men find hope in friendship to prevent suicide.
When the winter sun sets in Kasigluk, Alaska, it won’t rise fully for three months. But Alaskans are a hardened breed. They continue to work undaunted, many in trades that require them to be outdoors in extreme conditions. The isolation, the darkness and the unforgiving weather can take a toll on the residents. Read Story
FRIENDSHIP
Harmony in Hardship.
Glenn Miller dropped out of college to become the swingingest band leader in the world.
The Great Depression rolled out across America like a pandemic, forcing families to work longer hours if they could find jobs and stand in soup lines if they couldn’t. Read Story
DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY
Good Food. Good Friends. Good for the Future.
Barron Prize winner Abby Yoon gets her hands dirty in the garden so at-risk kids can get fresh produce for lunch.
Growing children need healthy food to do well in school. Yet 14% of children in America don’t get more than one meal a day. Having an empty stomach makes it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. Read Story
PLANT YOURSELF
Going the Distance from the Farm to the Record Books.
Cliff Young showed up to the most grueling footrace in Australia — 875 kilometers — in overalls and gumboots. He went on to win in record time.
Even among ultramarathons — defined as any race longer than a standard 26.2-mile marathon — 875 kilometers (544 miles) is a long one, requiring training and stamina that seem almost beyond belief. Read Story
BE BONZER
Benny’s Bees.
How a former Marine with PTSD finds solace in service and beekeeping.
Benny is up early. His fit frame and efficient movements are a testament to his military training. He hoists heavy boxes of packaged honey into the back of his truck before the sun is up. But he always has time for a chat. And that begins with him handing you a bottle of honey and talking about its health benefits. Read Story
SWEETNESS
Caitlin Clark and the Importance of the Supporting Cast.
The all-time NCAA scoring leader is more than a great shooter.
Caitlin Clark is the best college basketball shooter ever. She is also an inspiration to young girls everywhere who have hoop dreams. While Caitlin represents stardom, she also reveals the hard work and selfless play. Read Story
ACT WELL THY PART
The Secret Ingredient to a Good Meal: Family and Friends.
Bernetta McKindra pays tribute to her grandfather, the Barbecue King of Kansas City. A StoryCorps story.
The early 1900s in America were rough years for much of the population. The economy was strained, the great flu pandemic shortened lifespans, World War l took its toll, and many common diseases were not yet treatable the way they are today. But the working class found ways to thrive. They were resourceful, lived in close-knit communities and looked out for each other. Read Story
HONOR THE PAST
Find the Good in Everybody.
Dolly Parton has made us feel loved and appreciated for decades. The singer/songwriter is a part of each of us who desires to be our best.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books, and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.” Read Story
KINDNESS
Wheels of Good Fortune.
One hundred sixty years ago, a man with a bold mustache and a bicycle with a huge wheel dreamed of pedaling around the world. Meet Thomas Stevens, the first human to circumnavigate the globe on a bike.
In 1884, the world was much larger than it is today. There were hostile territories, many regions were poorly mapped, and highways were yet to traverse continents. Sounds like the perfect time to ride a bicycle around the world. Read Story
ROLL FORWARD
‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ – How we Discover what Makes us Real … is Love.
Just as Margery Williams’ classic children’s book helps us all through the transition of childhood into adulthood, it helped the author through difficult times.
Margery Williams was an accomplished writer and author long before she wrote “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Born in London in the summer of 1881 to a wealthy and successful lawyer, she was the youngest child. Read Story
BE REAL
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother.
The tender relationship between two brothers is a beacon for us all. A StoryCorps moment that will make your day.
Rob Rigano lives in the town he grew up in on the East Coast, in New York state. His older brother, Phil, lives in San Diego. The two are in their mid-fifties now, and they got together before COVID to record a few memories. Read Story
BE A BROTHER
Everybody’s Grandma.
Connie might have said there was nothing special about her. Her grandchildren and their friends will tell you a different story.
Connie would tell you she was not very good at choosing husbands. As a schoolteacher in South Carolina, she worked hard to ensure her students were up to grade level. Read Story
BE SPECIAL
What we Learn About Ourselves from the Boys in the Boat.
Joe Rantz overcame childhood scarlet fever, abandonment and depression to become the oak-strong oarsman of the winning boat that shocked the world in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
In 1929, as the American economy crashed and one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, Joe Rantz stood on the planks of a dilapidated porch and watched his father, stepmother and younger brothers drive away. Read Story
PULL TOGETHER
The Woman Who Talks to Trees.
Understanding the power of relationships in the natural world will help us heal the people we share our communities with.
Suzanne Simard grew up in the woods. Her family worked as loggers, and when she was old enough, she, too, could be found in the trees. She loved the work, which she describes as “extremely exciting because it was so dangerous” and because she was one of the first women in the industry. Read Story
LISTEN
The Friendship Heard Round the World.
Luz Long and Jesse Owens struck up a friendship at the 1936 Olympics that transcended sport, race and history.
Jesse Owens was the grandson of enslaved people and the son of Alabama sharecroppers. Luz Long studied law at the University of Leipzig and was the physical embodiment of Hitler’s nationalistic ideal. One would become a national hero. One would die in the upcoming war. Both would call out racism at a time when it could cost them everything. Read Story
